Safe Patient Handling Before Patient Handling Wear the

Safe Patient Handling

Before Patient Handling • Wear the right clothes: Make sure your clothing and footwear are appropriate – clothes should allow free movement and shoes should be non-slip, supportive and stable. • Know your limits: Know your own capabilities and don’t exceed them – for instance, if you need training in the technique to be used, tell your Supervisor.

• Do one thing at a time: Don’t try to do two things at once – for instance, don’t try to adjust the patient’s clothing during the transfer. • Prepare for the task: Make sure everything is ready before you start – for instance, check other care givers are available if needed, equipment is ready and the handling environment is prepared. • Apply safe principles: Always use safe body mechanics – and use rhythm and timing to aid the task.

Patient Handling vs. Other Lifting • The load is often unstable • Patients do not have handles • A patient’s weight is distributed unevenly • A patient may be combative

Patient Handling Methods • Most common taught are body mechanics and the principles of ergonomics

Important Principles-Body Mechanics Apply safe body mechanics and maintain the natural curve of your spine to minimize the force on your joints and discs. Here’s the safe way to hold your body: • Stand in a stable position: Your feet should be shoulder width apart with one leg slightly forward to help you balance – you may need to move your feet to maintain a stable posture. • Avoid twisting: Make sure your shoulders and pelvis stay in line with each other. • Bend your knees: Bend your knees slightly, but maintain your natural spinal curve – avoid stooping by bending slightly at the hips (buttocks out).

Elbows in: Keep your elbows tucked in and avoid reaching – the further away from the body the load is, the greater the potential for harm. • Tighten abdominal muscles: Tighten your abdominal muscles to support your spine. • Head up: Keep your head raised, with your chin tucked in during the movement. • Move smoothly: Move smoothly throughout the technique and avoid fixed holds.

Important Principles-Body Mechanics • When handling/moving patients: 1) Maintain a wide, stable base with your feet 2) Put the bed at the correct height (waist level when providing care; hip level when moving a patient) 3) Try to keep the work directly in front of you to avoid rotating the spine 4) Keep the patient as close to your body as possible to minimize reaching CAUTION: Body mechanics alone is not sufficient!

• There are lifting tasks that are so stressful to the body even if proper body mechanics and ergonomics are used a person can still suffer an injury!

Team Lifting o More than one person required to lift a load: team of folks; one person “calls” directions and lifting steps so everyone will move at the same pace. o Can be used when the patient is very large or overly obese. o Team members must still use caution to ensure proper body mechanics and ergonomic issues are addressed.

Prepare for Safe Patient Handling • Know what equipment is available and how it works • Assess the patient and the environment • Gather appropriate equipment and staff needed • Coach Patient

When & Why to Use Lifting Devices • Patient Benefits: o Patient comfort o Respects a patient’s sense of dignity o Promotes patient independence and rehabilitation

Economic Benefits of Lifting Devices Decreases occupational injuries and indirect costs including: • Employee replacement • Additional training • Loss of productivity • Liability

When to Use a Lift Patient characteristics that add risk: o Height o Weight o Body Shape o Dependency

Employee Responsibility • Know the characteristics of an unsafe lift • Know the help that is available – both coworkers and equipment • Know your employer’s lift policies • If unsure about the safety of a lift, ask your instructor/director

Risk Factors • Patient may have difficulty supporting full weight • If patient begins to fall what will the nurse do? • Can nurse support full weight of patient by herself? • Is the patient wearing non-slip footwear; floor slippery?

Sitting a Patient Up in Bed • If the person is not strong enough to push up with his or her hands to a sitting position, place one of your arms under the person's legs and your other arm under his or her back. • Move the person's legs over the edge of the bed while pivoting his or her body so the person ends up sitting on the edge of the bed. • Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, your knees bent and your back in a natural straight position.

To Assist with Standing up o Position the person's feet on the floor and slightly apart. o The patient's hands should be on the bed or on your shoulders. o Place your arms around the person's back and clasp your hands together. o If the patient is wearing a lifting belt make sure it is fastened around their waist. o Grasp the belt when lifting the patient. o Hold the person close to you, lean back and shift your weight.

To Assist with Sitting Down • Into a chair, wheelchair, on a bed: § Pivot toward the chair, bend your knees, and lower the person into the chair. § The person should have both hands on the arms of the chair before lowering him/her down.

Types of Transfers • Bed • Chair • Commode/toilet • Lateral transfers • Floor • Vehicle

Repositioning • Chair • Bed • Gurney • Diagnostic tables

Transfer & Repositioning Factors • Patient • Personnel • Equipment • Environment

Patient • Medical condition – history • Mental status – cooperative, follows directions etc. • Functional status- strength, balance, coordination & stamina

Environment • Design of the room • Furniture • Medical equipment • Lighting • Climate/temperature • Traffic/activity

Personnel • Education/Training • Competency • Compliancy • Teamwork • Communication

Equipment • Bed • Ceiling lift • Total mechanical lift • Sit to stand lift • Transfer belt • Non-Friction device/Air assistive device • Assistive devices (cane, wheelchair, etc. )

Before the Task, Remember o Check patient profile: Decide if the task is still necessary and that the handling plan is still appropriate. o Seek advice: Talk to your manager or the patient handling adviser if you need advice on the techniques and equipment you should be using. o Check equipment: Ensure equipment is available in good condition with all components in place and ready to use. o Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

o Prepare handling environment: Position furniture correctly, check route and access ways are clear, and check the destination is available. o Explain the task: Explain the task to the patient and other care givers who may be helping. o Prepare the patient: Ensure the patient’s clothes and footwear are appropriate for the task, and they have any aids they need. Adjust their clothes, aids and position – for instance, encourage the patient to lean forward. o Give precise instructions: Give clear instructions. This helps the care giver(s) and patient to work together.

Order of Operation • Ceiling lift/Total mechanical lift • Sit to stand lift • Transfer/gait belt • Non-Friction device/Air assistive device • Independent

Safety Tips • If standing for an extended period: o o Stand with feet shoulder width apart Place one foot slightly behind other Shift weight from foot to foot Re-position your body if possible

Safety Tips • If bending over for a long period of time: o o Stand upright Place your hands on your lower back Bend backward slowly Come back to upright position

Stretching Exercises • • Sit or stand with arms hanging loosely at your sides Turn head to one side, then the other Hold for 5 seconds, each side Repeat 1 to 3 times

Stretching Exercises o Stand or sit and place right hand on left elbow o With left hand, pull right elbow across chest toward left shoulder and hold 10 to 15 seconds o Repeat on other side

Stretching Exercises Keep knees slightly flexed Stand or sit with arms overhead Hold elbow with hand of opposite arm Pull elbow behind head gently as you slowly lean to side until mild stretch is felt o Hold 10 to 15 sec o Repeat on other side o o

Summary • Health care workers have very high injury rates due to musculoskeletal disorders caused by the overexertion of patient handling. • Always use proper body mechanics if you have to handle a patient and get help if necessary. • Use a patient lifting device where possible/practical. • Use a “lifting team” in the event the patient is very large or overly obese. • Never put yourself in a position where you and your patient could be injured if you move/lift the patient incorrectly.